Conquering Spanish: Interviews with Learners

In this episode of Conquering Spanish, host Tania Roman sits down with Brent, a retired technology sales leader from Queens, New York, who began learning Spanish after retirement and now describes it as building a slightly different version of himself.

Brent explains what started it: travel that showed him how routinely people elsewhere speak two or three languages, and a desire to keep his mind active once the working years ended. He began with free community college classes for seniors, then went looking for real conversation. Transparent pricing is what made him try Spanish55, and he has been working with Coach Fran since December 2024, including an unexpected lunch together on a Caribbean island.

He speaks candidly about freezing in public, the deer-in-the-headlights moment when two words refuse to arrive, and how one-on-one lessons gave him the time and patience to work through it. His practical fix will be useful to anyone stuck at the same point: build a vocabulary wide enough that you can grab a close-enough word and keep the conversation going.

Brent also shares the habits around his lessons, from riding the 7 train through some of the most Spanish-speaking neighborhoods in New York to watching well-dubbed series with subtitles and taking a weekly no-English class. He is heading to Mallorca in September with his bike, and his reflection on what Spanish has given him is a reminder that retirement can be a beginning rather than a slowing down.

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In this episode of Conquering Spanish, host Tania Roman sits down with Jennifer, a traveler, photographer, and former travel editor who spent close to two decades visiting Mexico before deciding it was time to actually learn Spanish.

Jennifer studied French from childhood through a semester in Paris, and she describes how that history both supports and interferes with her Spanish today. She walks through her path from an app, to a tutor, to a work immersion program, and finally to Coach Ana at Spanish55, where she has been a student since 2020 and where a conversation-led approach has kept her going week after week.

She also shares the most unexpected part of her routine: using AI as a study partner. She works through tricky phrasing with ChatGPT, and she built her own Spanish vocabulary app that turns the notes from her lessons into flashcards. Alongside that, she talks about the podcasts and shows she uses to hear how people really speak, and why cultural context matters as much as vocabulary.

Jennifer is candid about the frustrations of learning part time with a full-time job, and about the moments when she has questioned where it is all leading. Her conclusion is one many adult learners will recognize, and it is a good reason to keep going even on the weeks when progress is hard to see.

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In this episode of Conquering Spanish, host Tania Roman sits down with Elaine, a psychologist who first began learning Spanish to connect with her stepson's wife and her family, and stayed with it because it became one of her favorite ways to keep growing.

Elaine shares what draws her to the language as more than vocabulary and grammar: the way Spanish reflects a different way of thinking and phrasing the world, and how that keeps her open-minded and curious. She talks about her years of volunteering with children in Guatemala and Costa Rica, her immersion experiences in Malaga and across Latin America, and the moments at markets and workshops where speaking Spanish let her connect with people in a deeper way.

She also explains how she weaves Spanish into daily life through multiple sources, from her lessons with Coach Giovanna to reading the New York Times in Spanish and listening to podcasts, and why real progress comes from a little input every single day.

If you have ever wanted a richer reason to learn Spanish beyond travel or work, this episode offers a thoughtful and encouraging perspective from someone who sees language learning as a lifelong path of growth.

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In this episode of Conquering Spanish, host Tania Roman sits down with Adam, an international development professional from Washington, DC, who is no stranger to language learning. After more than fifteen years with Chinese, he set a goal in 2025 to learn Spanish deeply, and this conversation is an honest look at what that commitment really takes.

Adam shares why he wanted to connect with his neighbors and the Latino community in DC, how his experience learning Chinese shapes the way he approaches Spanish, and what has surprised him along the way. He also talks about his recent trip to Mexico City, Puebla, and Oaxaca, including a visit to a Zapotec pottery studio where he followed an entire presentation in Spanish.

He explains how he sustains momentum with a standing schedule of lessons alongside coaches Valeria and Ana, why he treats practice like going to the gym, and how he immerses himself daily through Netflix, local Spanish news, podcasts, and Spanish language comedians on Instagram.

At the center of the episode is a mindset worth borrowing: the journey is the destination, and the challenges are the fun part. If you have ever felt impatient with your progress, or wondered whether it is worth committing seriously to a language as an adult, this episode offers a grounded and encouraging perspective from someone who genuinely loves the process.

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In this episode of Conquering Spanish, host Tania Roman sits down with Brittany, a middle school counselor from Oregon, about a 20-year Spanish learning journey full of starts and stops. It is an honest look at what keeps an adult learner motivated when progress feels slow.

Brittany shares how her love for Spanish began in college, sparked by a roommate's mother from Mexico, and how it deepened through her appreciation for the culture, the food, the music, and the warmth of the people she has met. After years of classes, tutoring, books, and videos that never quite met her where she was, she found the right fit at Spanish55 with her coach, Valeria.

They discuss the strategies that finally made the language stick, from switching her TV to Spanish to reading passages aloud, and how a coaching relationship that feels part teacher and part friend turned mistakes into part of the process. Brittany also explains how she uses Spanish in real life, connecting with newcomer families at her school and navigating travel in Puerto Rico and Cozumel.

If you have ever wondered whether it is too late to improve your Spanish, or how persistence and the right support can change the way you feel about speaking, this episode offers an honest and encouraging perspective from an adult learner who genuinely loves the process.

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In this episode of Conquering Spanish, host Tania Roman sits down with Ardy to discuss her lifelong journey with the Spanish language and how personalized coaching helped her gain the confidence to communicate more naturally in real-life situations.

Ardy shares how her interest in Spanish began in middle school and eventually led her to study in Spain, Costa Rica, and Mexico. She reflects on living with a host family in Morelia, immersing herself in Mexican culture, and continuing to strengthen her Spanish years later through travel, conversation, podcasts, music, reading, and one-on-one lessons. 

They also discuss the importance of consistency, confidence over perfection, and how regular exposure to the language can transform the learning process. Ardy explains how working with Coach Ashley at Spanish55 helped her feel more comfortable speaking Spanish openly, whether while traveling in Mexico or simply practicing everyday conversations in Arizona. 

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s too late to improve your Spanish, or how immersion and conversation practice can help you feel more confident speaking, this episode offers an honest and encouraging perspective from someone who truly enjoys the process of learning.

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Learning Spanish as an Adult: Angie’s Journey from Nervous to Confident

In this episode of Conquering Spanish, host Tania Roman sits down with Angie Armijo to explore what it’s really like to learn Spanish as an adult.

Angie shares what held her back in the beginning, including the fear of speaking and making mistakes, and how she gradually built the confidence to communicate in real-life situations.

They discuss the role of consistency, the importance of having the right support system, and how personalized guidance can make the process more structured and effective.

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s too late to learn Spanish, or if you’ve struggled with speaking despite studying, this conversation offers a practical and honest perspective from someone who has gone through the process.

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Fear of saying the first word. We’ve all been there. Nick joins us to share how he moved from hesitation to genuine connection by treating Spanish not as homework, but as a bridge to people, music, and everyday life in South Florida.

What began with love turned into a wider world: conversations with coworkers, rhythmic nights soundtracked by reggaeton, and the courage to speak even when the brain feels slow and the grammar isn’t perfect.

We unpack the mindset shift that keeps momentum alive on tough days. Nick explains why discipline matters, but joy matters more—and how short, human interactions beat long, stressful cram sessions. He walks through the practical habits that helped: singing along to pop hooks for sticky vocabulary, choosing simple wins when energy is low, and anchoring progress to goals that mean something, like talking with a partner’s family or finishing a novel in Spanish.

A huge part of Nick’s growth came from working one-to-one with Coach Diomedes. Beyond corrections and drills, their sessions offered trust, patience, and perspective—especially when life got heavy. That support made it easier to take risks, make mistakes, and keep speaking. Along the way, Nick discovered a powerful surprise: when you reach out in Spanish, many people meet you with warmth, pride, and help. Connection fuels consistency, and consistency builds confidence.

If you’re tired of perfectionism and ready to enjoy the process, this conversation will reset how you learn.

Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a nudge, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. Your next conversation could start today!

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In this episode of Conquering Spanish, host Tania Roman speaks with Joel Dermott, a public health administrator in rural Missouri, about how learning Spanish became a tool for service rather than perfection.

Joel shares how families who arrive at his clinic without English immediately relax when they’re greeted in Spanish, even if the conversation is simple. He explains why technology alone can’t replace human connection, and how returning to Spanish later in life helped him reconnect with values like empathy, dignity, and respect.

This conversation explores learning Spanish as an act of humanity, especially in communities where language barriers can make people feel invisible or unsafe. Joel’s story is a reminder that fluency isn’t required to make a meaningful difference.

🎧 Listen for insight, motivation, and a powerful perspective on why conquering Spanish is really about connection.

🔗 Ready to take your Spanish further?

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In this episode of Conquering Spanish, host Tania Román sits down with Chad, a bank executive from Tucson, Arizona, whose mission to connect with friends and clients inspired him to learn Spanish. Chad shares how speaking with Coach Paula since 2021 has transformed his confidence, helping him move from memorizing vocabulary to having real conversations in Spanish.

He talks about practicing Spanish with Uber drivers, using podcasts like NÓtose to pick up natural expressions, and how treating lessons like gym sessions keeps him consistent despite a busy schedule. Chad also opens up about overcoming fear, celebrating small wins, and discovering that fluency is built through everyday interactions.

If you’ve ever felt nervous about starting a conversation in another language, Chad’s story will remind you that progress comes from showing up and speaking—mistakes and all.

🎧 Tune in for practical tips, motivation, and a heartfelt reminder that conquering Spanish isn’t about perfection—it’s about connection.

🔗 Ready to take your Spanish further? 
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